Letters

  "Devils of Loudon" by Aldous Huxley is a complicated book, and written on a highly intellectual level. It probably has to be read several times to understand. Some notion and appreciation of Aldous Huxley's view on spirituality and religion also enrich the reading experience. It is not a book for everyone, and a frequent complaint is that there are too many digressions from the riveting plot to Huxley's philosophical asides. If one is willing to put in the time and effort this is truly a "great book."  The prose style is insidious and elegant. Reading DOL from beginning to end is the equivalent , in terms of processed knowledge, of earning an MA in French 17th-century history.  This is not just a book about a demonic possession, it is also a statement of philosophy, politics, propaganda, psychological theory, and a critique of the habit of religious persecution into varied non-secular domains.. The plot and descriptions, as well as Aldous Huxley's inev

A lesser-known or lesser-discussed diagnoses is Aggressive-Sadistic Personality Disorder. The diagnosis helps conceptualize certain personalities that have distinct features and don't quite fit into other descriptions very neatly. Most often, they are mistaken for narcissistic or antisocial personalities. The Aggressive Sadistic Personality conceptualization, that of Theodore Millon, is derived from older ideas of sadism and masochism. The features of this personality are recognized by people once explained, particularly to those who have had to live with one, for they are toxic in the short run, and particularly over time.  The diagnosis of an Aggressive Sadistic personality is not currently in the DSM psychiatric nomenclature. It was, for a time, then removed, to the dismay of prominent psychologists. A reason that it was removed was to avoid it being used to justify for bad behavior.  It would fall under the category of "personality disorders."  It is an extremely usef